The Melbourne Diocesan Historical Commission (MDHC) is responsible for maintaining records regarding the administration of the Archdiocese.
It also holds general material about Melbourne parishes and about some Catholic agencies and institutions. It does not hold the records of individuals except for Father Linane’s Priests A to Z Series. This comprises biographical information about all priests who served in dioceses throughout Australia and who were ordained prior to 1900.
The Religious Orders have their own archives. The Catholic Education Office also has its own archive with material (from 1932).
The major Melbourne Catholic newspapers and periodicals are all available at the State Library. These include The Advocate (1868-1990), Austral Light (1892-1920), The Tribune (1900-1971) and Kairos (1990-2016).
The MDHC summary of and index to The Advocate (1868-1990) is also at the State Library of Victoria, The Genealogical Society of Victoria and in other states.
For enquiries about the MDHC holdings please write to:
The Archivist
Melbourne Diocesan Historical Commission
PO Box 146 East Melbourne VIC 3002
rachel.naughton@cam.org.au
Baptisms and Marriages
All Victorian Catholic baptisms and marriages that took place up to and including 1853 have been microfilmed and are available at the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) and in most major libraries. For the years after that, enquries may be made in writing to the parish church where the sacrament took place. The Parish Priest is the custodian of sacramental records.
As well as its own records, St Patrick’s Cathedral holds some Baptism and Marriage records for the following city churches: St Augustine’s (Bourke St), St Francis (Elizabeth and Lonsdale St), Sacred Heart Carlton and St John the Evangelist East Melbourne. Applications for information regarding these may be made in writing to:
The Dean
St Patrick’s Cathedral
PO Box 146 East Melbourne VIC 3002
deans.office@cam.org.au
The Goold Catholic Museum: Museum of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne
The museum is managed by the Melbourne Diocesan Historical Commission, whose brief is to collect, house and provide public access to material relating to the history of the Church in Victoria. The Collection comprises liturgical objects, vestments, artefacts, furniture, documents, artworks, statues and personal memorabilia. Access to the Museum is currently limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Group Visits
School groups and other groups to book one month ahead. Ideal group number is 15. A group comprises 5 or more.
Individual Visits
Four people or less are required to phone ahead to arrange a visit.
Cost (p/p)
$1.00
Access
Please note that displays are accessed via a staircase.
Enquiries
Contact the Archivist on 9926 5677 or rachel.naughton@cam.org.au
